14 September 2025
On September 24, 2025, the “Mid-Autumn In Poetry 2025” was successfully held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Supervised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, China and the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, and co-hosted by the China Cultural Center in Sri Lanka and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Xizang Autonomous Region, China, with support from the Rikaze Municipal Ethnic Art Troupe, Sri Lanka Overseas Chinese Association, Lumbini Confucius Classroom, and the Bank of China Colombo Branch as strategic partner, the gala attracted nearly 300 attendees. Distinguished guests included Hon. Hanis Yousuf, Governor of Western Province, Mr. Palitha Nanayakkara, Municipal Commissioner of Colombo Municipal Council, Ms. Ji Lili, Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, Madame Ren Yajun, representative of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Xizang Autonomous Region, as well as members of Sri Lankan society and overseas Chinese.
The event, featuring song and dance performances, intangible cultural heritage displays, and interactive experiences, presented the local community with a Mid-Autumn cultural feast filled with warmth and poetry, while also officially kicking off the 2025 “MID-AUTUMN DAY IN POETRY” celebration series.
In her address, Counsellor Ji Lili emphasized that the Mid-Autumn Festival carries the cultural connotations of harvest, harmony, and reunion, and its spirit of “shared harmony and beauty” is now reaching the world through cultural exchanges. She noted that Sri Lanka also celebrates its traditional Poya Day under the full moon, which resonates with the Mid-Autumn spirit. The event, she added, conveyed wishes of reunion under the same moon and promoted artistic dialogue and cultural understanding between China and Sri Lanka.
Mr. Palitha Nanayakkara, Municipal Commissioner of Colombo, welcomed the gathering by highlighting Colombo as a city of cultural diversity. He stressed that hosting such a poetry and dance gala provided citizens with a valuable opportunity to experience Chinese culture firsthand, deepening mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of Sri Lanka and China.
Speaking on behalf of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Xizang Autonomous Region, Madame Ren Yajun introduced Xizang’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. She expressed hope that the performances and exhibitions would enable Sri Lankan friends to appreciate the unique charm of Xizang’s culture and further strengthen cultural ties and cooperation.
The gala opened with a touching musical recitation of Prelude to Water Melody: How Long Will the Moon Be Full?, performed by children from the Lumbini Confucius Classroom, delivering the timeless lines “May we all be blessed with longevity, though thousands of miles apart, we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.” The Rikaze Municipal Ethnic Art Troupe then ignited the stage with Xieqin · Golden Homeland, a grand dance listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.
Other highlights included the male solo Grace of the Herdsmen, evoking the life and spirit of the grasslands; the erhu solo Horse Racing, recreating the vigor of horse racing; the powerful men’s dance Jiaxie · Dance of the Earth; and traditional “Langma” pieces such as the female solo Langma · Amalehong and the women’s group dance Langma · Auspicious Day, which celebrated the joy of harvest and the elegance of Xizang heritage. The finale, Beautiful Hometown, captured the festive life of Sherpa communities, bringing the evening to a vibrant climax.
Adding to the cultural dialogue, Sri Lankan artists from Sathjana Kendraya performed Sanda Diya Uthura Apathe Yai and Sanda Ek Dinak Tharu Ha Bidi. Through graceful movements and rhythmic drumming, these dances depicted the romantic vitality of Sri Lankan youth under moonlight, echoing the evening’s theme of shared celebration. The collaboration of Chinese and Sri Lankan performers vividly demonstrated the mutual appreciation between the two civilizations, showing how cultural exchange bridges geography and unites hearts.
After the performances, guests visited a Xizang cultural and creative exhibition, where they enthusiastically joined interactive sessions such as Thangka painting, Tibetan costume experience, and butter tea preparation. The lively atmosphere was filled with joy and engagement.
The event was widely covered by Xinhua News Agency, Phoenix TV, Legal Daily, as well as Sri Lankan mainstream outlets including Daily News, Daily Mirror, The Island, Sri Lanka Mirror, Ceylon Today, and Daily FT, in Sinhala, Tamil, and English.